What hunger looks like and what hunger means can be communicated in many ways, even in Farmville, Va. Longwood students from different disciplines collaborated this spring 2013 semester in the effort to best capture what hunger looks like in the community in conjunction with the Honors English 400 course and the Art 254 Color Photography course.
While the photography students took pictures of what hunger looked like, the Honors students wrote accompanying text for each photograph to more specifically explain what each picture means.
Dr. Heather Lettner-Rust, assistant professor of English, is leading the Honors students within the project while Michael Mergen, assistant professor of Photography, is leading the Art students.
Concerning her goal in the making of this collaboration, Lettner-Rust said, “From my end, it was that students would find a way to be heard about a civic issue, a civic public issue, which is hunger in the community, and work to be heard by the constituents here rather than preaching to them or telling them about stuff that they already know. This works to really give people a reflection about what we see so that we can start conversations.”
Within both courses, 17 teams were formed with one writer and one or two photographers to focus on a single topic or issue in Farmville. The teams were formed by a round robin where students with similar interests were paired together.
Lettner-Rust said, “They were kind of paired by idea, but distilling that idea and sharpening it has been the work of these teams to come together.”
One topic discussed within the projects includes depicting community organizations that tackle hunger, such as F.A.C.E.S. and Meals on Wheels. Other topics include the choices one makes between using money for food or for other items, such as medicine, as well as how one may take care of a domestic animal while trying to pay for one’s own food.
When beginning the collaboration within the two courses, the students were required to read a printed white book, titled, “Hunger in Farmville, Virginia: An Analysis.” The white book includes information on the demographics of Farmville as well as how hunger is aided in Farmville. The book was put together by Honors students during the course of two semesters in the year 2012.
According to the white book, “As of 2010, Farmville had 34.6% of its 8,216 residents living below the government’s poverty threshold.”
Afterwards, students brainstormed ideas and created a proposal on what they would hope the images would look like.
The photography students then photographed their subjects, while the writers compiled any research needed for the topic chosen. During the semester, the students were also taken on a tour around Farmville to become more familiar with where organizations that aid hunger are located.
Considering what students have gained throughout the experience, Lettner-Rust said, “An understanding of patience and frustration. It’s been really hard, but I think that remains to be seen, and I think they’re the best voices to say this.”
Exhibiting the students’ work, there will be an opening reception at the Farmer’s Market at 213 North Street on Thursday, April 25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The exhibition will remain open on Friday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibit will be titled, “17 Portions: Food for Thought.”
The exhibition is sponsored by the town of Farmville, the Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences and the Honors College.
A printed 40-page tabloid will be printed with the images and texts from the students’ work. With 1,000 copies made, the tabloids will be located in off-campus locations, such as barber shops, The Bakery and local churches. The tabloid will also be available in every academic building on campus as well as in Java City and Barnes & Noble.
The town of Farmville and the Honors Student Association will also be showcasing the film, “A Place at the Table,” on Monday, April 22 at 7 p.m. in Jarman Auditorium. The film focuses on hunger issues in America.
With the possibility of continuing collaboration between the two courses, Lettner-Rust said, “We should probably tackle another [issue other than hunger], but I think there’s still more to do in terms of taking pictures of hunger or understanding hunger.”
